Country of origin: Iran (Persia)
ACF, WCF, GCCF, FIFE, TICA, CFA, ACFA
Coat: Longhair
Coat colour: Any
Weight: up to 7 kg
Life expectancy: 13-15 years
Appearance of the Persian cat
Tail: short, thick, covered with dense fur.
Thorax: stocky, large, with a broad chest.
Neck: short, broad, thick.
Ears: small, widely spaced, low-set, with rounded tips, densely covered with hair.
Muzzle: broad, massive, with a low chin and round cheeks.
Claws: large, rounded, with hair between the fingers.
Coat: dense, long, soft.
Eyes: large, rounded, far apart.
Legs: short, thick.
History of the Persian cat
Long-haired Persian cats have been around for about 500 years, but their origins have never been fully explored.
It is known that Persian cats entered Europe in the 16th century. The Italian traveller Pietro Della Valle brought them from the province of Harassan in Persia. There is also a version that the ancestors of the Persian cat originated in Russia. Interestingly, for a long time Persian cats have been called very different things: Asian cat, Russian cat, Chinese cat, Indian cat. Originally, these cats came in only three colours: blue, white and black. It is probably the black cats of this breed that are the oldest representatives of this glorious breed. Nowadays, black Persian cats are very rare. Breeders find it difficult to produce a pure black colour without any other colour shades.
The long and decorative coat is most likely the result of a random mutation or breeding, and is linked to the cat's high degree of exclusivity compared with other breeds.
The ancestors of all modern Persians are probably cats and kittens bred in 19th century England.
It was there, since Queen Victoria acquired two blue Persians for herself, that the real "Persian boom" took place. Persian cats quickly became very fashionable. More and more new shades began to appear. There are now over 400 different shades of these cats.
In the 20th century, thanks to American breeders, a revolution of sorts took place in Persian cat breeding. The colour and appearance of the cats had reached extremes. Since then, there have been two types of Persian cats: classic (old) and extreme (American).
Thanks to their luxurious appearance and calm character, Persian cats are currently the most famous and popular cats in the world.
Persian cat Character
Persian cat lovers are attracted to the appearance of these cats, but it is the character of this breed that attracts the most attention from cat lovers.
Persian cat fanciers stress that Persians are a joy to keep. Persians are the perfect combination of gentle loyalty and pampered majesty. Persian cats generally love to spend time with their owner, playing and having fun. Persians have a soft and pleasant voice, which they use quite rarely.
These cats need affection very much, but will never demand it as some other cat breeds do. This breed can show a very strong devotion to the person they love, but can also be very arrogant, as if trying to emphasise their royal majesty.
Persian cats are completely trusting and loyal only to those people who give them as much love and attention as they do.
Persian cat health, diseases
Persian cats are generally healthy, but may inherit some diseases.
When breeders breed cats to get the best result, sometimes the opposite happens and the cats acquire bad traits.
The most common of the hereditary diseases Persian cats can have polycystic kidney disease, which can lead to kidney failure.
Also, there can be hereditary blindness, which is called progressive retinal atrophy. Symptoms become visible at around 4-8 weeks of age, the disease progresses very quickly and by 15 weeks of age the animal is completely blind.
In addition, Persian cats have excessive tearing of the eyes and respiratory problems due to flat feet.
Persian cats are prone to dental plaque, tartar and gingivitis. Gingivitis can lead to stomatological problems such as periodontitis (inflammation affecting the tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth), which can result in loss of teeth and bone tissue.
Finally, a very life-threatening heart disease in Persians is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This disease can occur at any age, but is more common in older cats, who have probably already passed the disease on to their children. It is a very serious disease as the first symptoms are often sudden death at a relatively young age. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common heart disease in cats.
Persian cat care
Persian cats have special needs in terms of coat care. Persian coat care requires considerable time and effort to keep all the long hair looking beautiful and well-groomed. If you don't take care of your Persian cat's coat for a while, it will become matted and your pet will lose all the shine and charm of its coat.
You should spend 10-15 minutes a day and another hour a week grooming your cat's coat, and bathe them about once every two weeks. If tear tracks remain near the eyes, the muzzle should be rubbed once a day.
If you are not going to take your pet to dog shows, it is recommended to trim the hair on the hind legs and around the anus for hygiene reasons.
Final notes
Due to the high popularity of Persian cats, it is not difficult to find breeders for these cats, but you should check with the cattery or breeder to find the best kitten. Avoid those who sacrifice quality for quick profits and do not care about the welfare and health of their cats. When buying a kitten, meet several breeders and talk to them - this is the best way to find your ideal Persian. Read up on the breed before you buy a kitten, talk to specialists before you make a serious decision.